
Finance and Administration Officer
-
School:
Schools North East Trading Ltd -
Location:
-
Salary:
Band 2 – £26,118 - £30,392, depending on experience -
Hours:
36 -
Contractual Status:
Permanent -
Closing Date:
27th Aug 2025
Finance and Administration Officer
Salary: Band 2 – £26,118 – £30,392, depending on experience
Location: Central Newcastle (with flexibility to work from home on Fridays)
Hours: Full-time, 36 hours per week
Holidays: 30 days plus Bank Holidays
Reports to: Business Manager
Closing Date: 5pm Wednesday 27 August 2025
Schools North East is the region’s dedicated, independent voice for schools. We champion the education sector, strengthen collaboration, and connect schools with the wider world. As we approach our 20th anniversary, we are building on a track record of success and impact — and this role will play a key part in keeping our operations running smoothly.
As Finance & Administration Officer, you’ll be at the heart of our day-to-day work — raising invoices, processing memberships, maintaining accurate financial and CRM records, and supporting our Business Manager. Your attention to detail and organisational skills will help ensure we continue to deliver a high-quality service to schools, influence education policy, and strengthen our community. This is a great opportunity to develop your skills in a supportive, ambitious organisation that values accuracy, efficiency, and impact.
Key Responsibilities
Finance Support
- Raise and issue invoices using accounting software.
- Process incoming receipts and reconcile transactions.
- Monitor and chase outstanding payments (credit control).
- Maintain up-to-date and accurate financial records.
- Provide first-line responses to finance-related queries from internal and external stakeholders.
Membership and CRM Administration
- Process membership renewals and maintain accurate records.
- Administer Jobs in Schools | North East subscriptions as part of our offer to schools.
- Update and maintain the CRM system.
Office and Administrative Support
- Provide general administrative support to the Directors, Business Manager and wider team.
- Assist in maintaining shared files, records, and supplies.
- Support arrangements for internal meetings, documentation, and systems improvements.
- Work flexibly as part of a small team, undertaking tasks as needed to help deliver SNE’s aims.
Person Specification
(A – Application, I – Interview, T – Task)
Essential
- Experience in a finance or finance-administration role, including invoicing, reconciliations, and credit control (A, I).
- Confident user of Sage 50 (or similar accounting software) (A, I).
- Good understanding of accounting processes and procedures (A, I).
- Experience in an administration role and dealing with enquiries promptly (A, I ,T).
- Strong IT skills, including Excel, Word, with accurate keyboard skills (A, I, T).
- Good organisational skills with the ability to prioritise and manage high-volume workloads (A, I).
- Strong communication and listening skills, with a calm and professional approach (I).
- Ability to work under pressure, meet deadlines, and adapt to changing priorities (A, I).
- Able to work effectively with minimal supervision, showing initiative and responsibility (A, I).
- Good analytical and problem-solving skills (A, I).
- Awareness of GDPR and ability to apply it in practice (A, I).
Desirable
- Finance-related qualification (AAT Level 2 or above, or equivalent) (A, I).
- Experience working in an education or membership organisation (A, I).
- Experience working with CRM systems (A, I).
- Interest in education in the North East region (A, I).
To apply: Please submit your full CV, clarifying any gaps in employment, along with a cover letter clearly linking your skills and experience to the job description and person specification to: recruitment@schoolsnortheast.com, FAO Lindsay Gerencser.
If you would like an informal conversation about this role please email Pauline Aitchison, Deputy Director: p.aitchison@schoolsnortheast.com to arrange a suitable time.
Supporting documents
Finance and Administration Recruitment PackSchools North East Trading Ltd
Schools North East Trading Limited is a wholly owned subsidiary of the leading educational charity Schools North East. Schools North East Trading Ltd gifts all of its profits to the charity to help provide as much support for North East schools as possible.
Schools North East is the first, and only, regional schools-led network in the UK. A charity and not-for-profit social enterprise, we were established in 2007 by the North East’s Head Teachers to be the representative body for the region’s 1,150 schools and act as a champion for education in our region.
Our vision is of a North East region in which young people are confident, enterprising, skilled and aspiring; learning and developing within well-resourced, nurturing and purposeful school environments. We are focused on driving change and influencing policy for the benefit of North East schools. Find out more about the work Schools North East does by visiting our website.
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